Street pastors bank cash from £1million fund

A TEAM of Good Samaritans who try to keep night-time revellers safe in Rugby town centre has banked a grant from a £1million community fund.

The Street Pastors have been handed £5,490 from the pot of cash set aside of Warwickshire police and crime commissioner Ron Ball to support the victims of crime, and help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

The money was handed over at the group's recent annual meeting when it was detailed how over the past year the pastors had administered first aid on 18 occasions, assisted 18 clubbers into taxis and on occasions even travelling with them to ensure they got home safely, brushed up broken glass on 114 occasions, disposed of 1,002 bottles and glasses, helped 75 vulnerable people and engaged in 2,063 conversations.

Over the past five years 51 street pastors have recruited and trained from Rugby’s REVIVE Churches, of which there are now still 42 with teams of four or five patrolling the town centre streets every Friday and Saturday night. A further eight are currently undergoing training.

Mr Ball said he planned to join them on patrol in the near future.

"If I hadn't witnessed it myself, I would have struggled to believe the contribution that Pastors make to making our town centres both safer and nicer places to be and I'm delighted to be able to support their work," he added.

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